5 reasons why PSG changing Lionel Messi s position makes them favorites to win the UEFA Champions League this season × Follow Us Create Notifications New User posted their first comment this is comment text Link Approve Reject & ban Delete Log in Manage your profile Editing Story Queue Video Queue Editing Stats Writer Home SEO Redirection Admin Gaming Wiki Edits Taxonomy Home Edit Site Menu Mapping Dashboard Tag Pages Community Social Feed Queue Feed Center Notification Center Affiliate Home Manage Pages Bottom Tagline Dash Timeless Stories Logout Football UEFA Champions League 2022-23 Listicle 5 reasons why PSG changing Lionel Messi s position makes them favorites to win the UEFA Champions League this season By Shambhu Ajith Modified 24 Aug 2022 Follow Us Comment Share Lionel Messi in action for Paris Saint-Germain Lionel Messi and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) are off to a flying start in the 2022-23 Ligue 1 season. They won their first three games of the campaign by a combined scoreline of 17-3. Christophe Galtier seems to have identified the strengths of his star-studded squad and has already got his team playing some scintillating football. B/R Football@brfootballMbappé: three goalsNeymar: two goals, three assistsMessi: one goal, one assistPSG's front three ran riot vs. Lille 211461519Mbappé: three goalsNeymar: two goals, three assistsMessi: one goal, one assistPSG's front three ran riot vs. Lille https://t.co/5rnwip1MTT He has tweaked the system that former manager Mauricio Pochettino used last term. The changes have worked wonders as Paris Saint-Germain look absolutely indomitable right now. They also recruited quite well in the summer whilst offloading some players who were not really coming through anymore. Despite signing Messi last summer, PSG could only win the Ligue 1 trophy in the 2021-22 season. But the legendary Argentine seems to have finally settled down at PSG and is thriving in his new attacking midfield position. If they can keep up this form, they might even make quick work of the strongest teams in Europe and finally take home that elusive Champions League title. Without further ado, let's take a look at five reasons why PSG changing Messi's position makes them favorites to win the UEFA Champions League this season. #5 Neymar allowed to stay more near the box and influence goals for PSG Paris Saint-Germain FC v FC Nantes - French Super Cup Neymar Jr. is one of the most technically gifted attackers of the modern era. He is also one of the best dribblers around and there are very few footballers who can navigate tight spaces like the Brazilian. In Galtier's new system, Neymar plays in a position that's much more advanced than where he was deployed over the past couple of campaigns. The 30-year-old is as unpredictable and intelligent as they come and is a nightmare to defend against. The results of allowing Neymar to stay closer to the box and influence play inside the final third are very potent. He has scored five goals and provided six assists in just three Ligue 1 appearances so far this season. #4 Mbappe and Neymar can form a strike partnership Kylian Mbappe (left) and Neymar Jr. (right) (photo cred: The42) It wouldn't be fair to talk about Neymar and then look past the contributions of his strike partner Kylian Mbappe, who scored a hat-trick against Lille on Sunday (August 21). Mbappe and Neymar have shown that both of them together can wreak havoc upon any team. But now that they've got Messi feeding them from behind, they have become an even more intimidating duo. Neymar doesn't always need to drop deep and look to release Mbappe every time PSG have a chance to counter attack. With a capable playmaker like Messi behind them, there is always an extra option for passing while counter attacking. Mbappe and Neymar seem to be forming a deadly striking partnership up front for PSG. Squawka@SquawkaLionel Messi, Neymar and Kylian Mbappé have been directly involved in 76 Ligue 1 goals between them in 2022: Messi: 812 Neymar: 159 Mbappé: 239Phenomenal output. 2143245Lionel Messi, Neymar and Kylian Mbappé have been directly involved in 76 Ligue 1 goals between them in 2022: Messi: 812 Neymar: 159 Mbappé: 239Phenomenal output. https://t.co/N2PnwCcvew #3 Lionel Messi gets more touches on the ball Paris Saint-Germain v Gamba Osaka - Preseason Friendly For much of last season, the Argentina icon showed a tendency to become a passenger in games. This is because he was usually stationed out wide on the right wing and he was not exactly involved in everything Paris Saint-Germain tried to construct in the final third. But now that he has been positioned more centrally and behind the attackers, he is involved a lot more and that's a great thing for PSG. Few players are better with the ball at their feet than the former Barcelona man. The record seven-time Ballon d'Or winner was always tipped to become a world-class playmaker once he lost a yard of pace. We're seeing that happen right now as Messi is dictating play to great effect as an attacking midfielder. He is becoming more influential in the final third by virtue of his passing and vision. Messi has already scored three goals and provided two assists in three Ligue 1 appearances, operating behind Mbappe and Neymar. #2 Brilliant management of Messi Paris Saint-Germain v Gamba Osaka - Preseason Friendly Messi has undoubtedly lost a yard of pace in recent years. One of the things that used to set him apart in his prime was his incredible burst of pace. He could drop a shoulder to send the defender the wrong way, turn on his afterburners and go out of sight in a second. As he has gotten older, playing out wide has become a whole lot tougher. But in a more central position where the primary attributes required are precise passing, nimble footwork and vision, he is way more effective. In his new position, Messi seems to have found more time and space and PSG are effectively playing to his strengths and helping him mask his weaknesses. It is top-notch management at the end of the day. #1 The best link when transitioning from defense to attack Paris Saint-Germain v Kawasaki Frontale - Preseason Friendly As was evident from the game against Lille, it's hard to find a player who can be a better link between defense and attack than Messi. The 35-year-old's passing, vision and close control makes him a tough player to contain. He is one of the most technically astute players of all time. Messi doesn't waste any time on the ball and having him dictate play behind Neymar and Mbappe is like activating a cheat code while playing FIFA. Paul Merson predicts Arsenal vs Liverpool and other EPL GW 10 fixtures! Click here Poll : 0 votes Quick Links More from Sportskeeda Edited by Shambhu Ajith × Feedback Thank You! Be the first one to comment Follow Us Share Show More Comments GIF Comment in moderation 0 0 Reply x Edit Delete Delete the comment? No thanks Delete GIF Cancel Update GIF Cancel Reply ❮ ❯ GIF Comment in moderation 0 0 Reply x Edit Delete Delete the comment? 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